Yarn severing device for full-fashioned knitting machines



y 1952 A. E. READING, JR 2,602,313

YARN SEVERING DEVICE FOR FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Filed March 7, 1951 INVENTOR ATTORNEY y 1952 A. E. READING, JR 2,602,313

YARN SEVERING DEVICE FOR FULL-FASHIONED KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 7, 1951 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 05. 106 FlE- l A INVENTOR ATTO R N EY Patented July 8, 1952 sures PATENT or-Flee I LY-ARN SEVERING DEVICETFDRTFUDLQFASH- :IONED KNITTING MAGHINES Alpheus E. Reading, In, Chalfont, Ta assignor --t-Textile Machine Works, w'yom'issing, '-Pa., a"

corporation of Pe'nnsylvania I Application March-'7, 1951,-Ser ia1No. 214,255

This invention relates "to "full 'fa'shione'd knitting 'machines and especially to a "methodl o'f and "means for severing'iyarn running between the i-fabric "anda "fiXed"pOint such as a clamp onthejrametof thema'c'hine. I

"Prior 'tof'starting 1a full fashioned knitting machine to' lay "yarn for the first 'course' of a knit .fabric the yarnfleading (from the yarn deliverytu'be ion the -yarn carrier is attached, either firmly orreleasably, to a fixed ,point on the machine. "successive "courses are -then knitted; the first course is drawn away from the needle "row by" the draw-Joi'imeans of themachine and "the "end "of yarn attached to the machine "thereupon begins to pull unduly on a corner *of the fabric or, .-if the "attachment "was loose enough for the 'yarn end to "pull away from the point of attachment, an "undesirably long end-hangs from 'the fabric. Anything *aslong as *an inch is'undesirable as a-possible cause of trouble. 'Thereforey-it 'has been necessary' to manually out off the yarn leading away from the =corner 0f the fabri'c' as close {to the fabric as possible at each knitting section of the "machine. The average fullfashioned knitting'mae chine is now of such length-that-this-operation has become an 'onerousone for the in'acl iine operator 'and it has been -sugge'sted "that automatically oper'ated scissors or "equivalent "means be employed. at each knitting section "to-put the yarn. However, the most popular fullfash ioned' knitting machine mw' manufactured in this country has thirty knitting sections and to equip such machines with a1ito'matic means including a :pair or'two 'o'f scissors-at-each section would be :quite expensive and also the-mecha'-" nism WOlll'dIbB complicated and-diificult to keep in vcorrect adjustment. "Wherefore, no material use has been made :0 f:suchautomatic mechanical 1 cutting means. a

It is therefore an object of the "presentinvention Ito provide a -method and means for severing the lengths of yarn leading from the first 'courses :of blanks on' f-ull ias'hioned knitting machines which shall b'e economicalto install as well as efficient', conv'enientand reliable in operation. Y I

Another object or thejinvention is to provide a method of and means for severing the yarn of which a' fabric "is knit-close to the -cornep'of theifabrl'crby a'hOt-Wir 5 GlaimS. (Cl. 66

1A vfurther iobject 5f the invention is "to [provide a device including anelectrical'lcircuithaving a, resistance Wi're fada'pted 'lv'vhe'n energized by "closing of -the circuitjito sever a jya'rn close to a corner or ajkn'itted 'fabric, the 'devi'ce also including a ,pattern chain actuated cifliiiit clotsinjg "means and a timing means "for opening the circuit. 7

With these and other objects in View which will become apparent from "the following de-. scription and the accompanying drawing, the invention comprises the novel method, elements, features of construction Land combination of parts in cooperative reIati'ons'hipfaS hereinafter more particularly pointed .out in the claims.

In the drawings:

"Figure .1 is a sectional elev'ation offla .iullfashioned knitting machine of -a rw'llkno'wn type and having a yarn severing means according to the -inventionappliedj thereto, parts being omittedfor purposesofillustration;

Fig. '2 is a detail view "of a portion efthe mechanism shown .atthe upper-left ci l ig'. '1

Fig. '3 a View taken'ilookin'g from .theilft of Fig. 2;

Fig. "4 -'i's a two part exploded diagrammatic view sho'v'vin'g, in the upper :part, .severa1 knitting sectionsvin plan ffit'ted with,'electricallsevring devices in apo'rtionof axcircuit'but witnicertain parts omitted and, in the lower part, one end Icif a pattern chain mechanism in elevation together with the-other end of the electrical circuit and control meansftherefor accordingto -.the1pres'en't invention; and f 'Fig."5"is'a detail'view on "a inuchferiIarged-scal'e of ;a "portion of the mechanism. shown Within the dot;andadasnreetangular outline A 6fFi'g-.4'.'

"In "the .drawings .and description, only the means 'and method necessary to a complete understanding :of the invention are specifically settforth; further information as 'to the .construction and operation "of ether related, usual and well known knitting machine elements; mechanisms, etc., maybeffound in one orinor'e o'f'the "following publication's:

'1. Pamphlet entitled Full Fas'hioned "Knitting -Machines--=published and copyrighted by the Textile machinaworks, Reading, eenn yl Vania, in -I920 p 4 2: Four *catalegs -entitled -The' Readin'g" Fum -Fashioned Knitting 'MachineTarts' "Cataduction Full-Fashioned Knitting Machine-- which, forming a supplement to the above noted 1940 Parts Catalog of the Textile Machine Works, is a publication of the Textile Machine Works, copyrighted by the latter in 1940.

4. Pamphlet entitledKnitting Machine Lectures-published by the Wyomissing Polytechnic Institute; Wyomissing; Pennsylvania, in 1935.

In general, the present invention employs an electrical circuit which includes one or a plurality of hot wire elements of the electrical resistance type adapted to sever a yarn or yarns used on the machine for knitting. As to the method invention, an ordinary yarn carrier finger is utilized to carry the yarn into close contact with a resistance element near the fabric while the end of the yarn is held, the circuit is closed to heat the element to a melting or burning temperature and the circuit is opened after a short, predetermined interval of such length as to insure severing of the yarn. The resistance or hot wire elements are so arranged with respect to theneedles as to contact, at points close to the needles, the yarns leading from the'first courses of the fabrics to the yarn end holding means. The circuit is normally open but the invention comprises a pattern controlled means to close the circuit-when the yarns are thus in contact with the severing elements, and an automatic timer of a commercial type adapted to open the circuit after'a certain period. The hot wire resistance element may be heated to sever synthetic type yarns, such as nylon and rayon, by melting, or to sever yarn such as silk or the like, by burning.

Referring to the drawings more in detail, a center frame Iii of a full-fashioned knitting machine is shown in Fig. l. The framework of the machine of which center frame ill is a part comprises also several longitudinal members, one of which is a center bed I 2. Mounted on bed l2 are sinker-heads [4, having caps 15, sinkers It and dividers It, and brackets I! for supporting yarn carrier'rcds l8. Rods l8 have yarn carriers secured thereto and each yarn carrier comprises a finger 22 at the lower and free end of which a usual yarn delivery tube is mounted.

Yarn is supplied to the yarn carriers from cones or like packages of yarn and passes through tensioning means (not shown) on its way to the carriers.

A second longitudinal frame member is the front bed 26 andon it are mounted bridge members or rails 28 (Figs. 1 and 4) on which welt bars and welt rods or wires may slide, the bridge members 28 being arranged one at each end of a knitting section 30. The sections 30 are arranged in pairs 32 with a pair between each two center frames, the space between the two knitting sections comprising a given pair being less than that between two pairs as is indicated at 34 and 35 respectively. However, each section operates the same regardless of its position along the length of the machine. Also, supported on front bed 26 by means of the bridge members 28 are hot wire yarn severing elements 36 shown as'arranged one at the inner end of each bridge member. These elements are used in severing yarn according to the present method invention and.

form parts of the mechanism according to the present apparatus invention. The entire arrangement including elements 36 will be presently described. Each section includes a needle bar' 38 on which is mounted needles 40 to which a yarn carrier 20 lays yarn for knitting. Certain of the yarn carrier fingers 22 introduce their yarn at the right side of the knitting section and the yarns of the other carriers are introduced at the left side of the knitting section. The means for operating the yarn carrier rods, the needles and the sinkers are not shown but may be of the usual character. 7 A

A third longitudinal member of the main frame is the front beam 42 and on it are supported additional parts of theapparatus according to the invention which includes, in the preferred form, a portion of a pattern means 44 (Figs. 1 and 4) mounted near the left hand end of the machine, which may be of a conventional type including a chain 45. As in, the usual case, the means 44 includes a series of levers one of which is shown at 48 as having its upper end journalled on a shaft 50, the lever having a projection 5| (Fig. 4) with which a button 52 on chain 46 is adapted to cooperate by contacting projection 5| at a desired time to swing lever 48 in the clockwise direction when viewed as "in Fig. 4. Lover 48 is utilized, in the arrangement shown, to assist in carrying out the severing method and as a part of the mechanism according to the invention, that is, the times at whichelectric current is passed through the hot wire severing elements 36 is determined by said counterclockwise movements of lever 48. For this purpose, lever 48 has I one end of a rod-like link 54 pivoted thereto at 55, the other end of the link being connected at 56 to one end of a lever 58. The other end of lever 58 is pivoted at 60 (Fig. 4) to'the front beam 42.

Therefore, when lever 48 is turned clockwise by chain 46, lever 58 is turned counterclockwise. Lever 58 has a t'appet 62 so arranged that, when the lever moves counterclockwise, tappet 62 presses on the end of a button 64 forming part of a switcht mechanism (notshown) of a timer device 66 mounted on front-beam 42. The timer device 66, diagrammatically shown in Fig. 4 may be of any commercial type which is adaptable for closing a circuit 68 and holding the circuit closed for predetermined time intervals. The hot wire elements 36 for all of the sections are connected into this circuit, preferably in series as shown.

The electrical resistance of; each element 36 is such that the total resistance in the circuit, when the elements are connected'in series and a given voltage is impressed on the circuit, will cause the elements to heat to a temperature to melt or burn through the yarn or yarns being used, the elements being heated for the time interval determined by timer 66. The wire of thecircuit between elements-36 is, however, large enough, or otherwise of such low resistance characteristics, as to prevent it from heating to an appreciable extent when carrying the current. The circuit 68 is shown as originating at a 110 volt source. The circuit 68 is connected by a switch '10 through connections 84 to the aforementioned switch in the timer 66. From the switch in the timer 66 the circuit is connected by leads86 to an adjustable transformer by means of which the voltage may be varied to increase or decrease the temperature of the elements 36. From the transformer the circuit continues through a lead 88 up to the level of bridge members 28 where the lead is connected to a binding post 90, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, to which-one end of the first hot wire severingelement 36, theone the il itchenda mi of .the. -1e t; hands-knittin sect-io 0.11s l n ne te (Fig-t4), ;;'I,-he%other end-set .hefirstaelsment 3. SKCQ JE B t -i t e bindin posted? [its extension; orgdumper }QI 6"?S' l indinapostiiz to.abindi i no t for a hot wire element 36 ;at, he righthandend of said;last nentionedgk Itt ng section, as shown in Fig. 5.

The circuitilthen c'.'ontinues,iinv the manner shown in Fig. .5, throughthe hoawire severin element 36 at the'right hand end of the left hand knitting section to a binding, post 98 from which point a-short jumper "I'OD'leads to a binding post J62 of a hot wire element 36 at 'theileft end, of ithe. second knittingsection 36: counting from .the; left, of the machine. After passing through said, lastmentionedhot wireielement to its other binding post I64, the circuit is then extending by a jumper I06 to a hot wire severing element 36 at the right hand end of said last mentioned knitting section and thence in a similar manner on through the entire series of hot wire severing elements to a return I68 for completing the circuit back to the transformer 85.

As previously pointed out, when lever 56 is turned counterclockwise, the switch of timer 66 is closed and an electrical current is impressed on the elements 36 which are thereby heated to a temperature to cause them to melt or burn through any yarns in contact with them. Heating is continued, under control of the timer, for a sufiicient period to insure severance of the Yarn. For ensuring contactbetween the elements 36 and the yarns II, the elements are so placed that the yarn carrier fingers 22 will draw the yarn from the delivery tube against elements 36 as shown in Fig. 5, provided the free end of the yarn is held in proper position. For holding the free ends of the yarns, yarn clamps 12 are provided, one outside each end knitting section and one between each two next adjacent knitting sections. Before the start of the stroke of a yarn carrier for laying yarn for a first course of a fabric, sufiicient yarn is drawn from the delivery tube to ensure that the yarn is properly tensioned and the yarn end is then placed in a clamp 12. When the yarn carrier fingers 22 are in the inactive or laid out position with respect to the knitting sections 30, as indicated by the carrier shown at the left end of the right hand knitting section in Fig. 5, the yarns ex tending from the carriers to the clamps are just beyond the elements 36 so that the idle yarns will not be severed when the elements 36 are heated as hereinbefore set forth. As the -car-' rier finger 22 moves from a position of rest outside the needle row, the yarn engages a yarn severing element and bends around it under tension. In the illustration of Fig. 5, the yarn carrier finger 22 starts from a position at the right hand side of the knitting section 36. The yarn, after engaging the element 36, next engages the end needle 46 at the right end of the knitting section. Soon after the yarn carrier has passed the end needle 46, the sinkers move forward under the influence of a usual cock-box cam or slur cam to catch the yarn in the throats thereof, the sinkers drawing off yarn in addition to that drawn by the motion of the carrier finger to provide suificient yarn to form loops. As soon as the yarn has been sunk and divided, welt hooks 16 are introduced either manually or automatically to engage the loops and to transmit tension to the fabric in the direction in which lead '6 :kriittingzis; to; -pr;eceed c-iAfter :aiew pomseszare formed; ithe element.36-;; is energized ctdsever: the :yarmrunning-fromjhe corner :of .-:the;fabric.

As-wilkbeseen in Fig; 5.;Zthey-wire elements. 36 fromwh-ichmarns runztozthe adjacent :eorners of -the.;.;fabric are :set :closeto :each endxofthe. .nee-

. .dl sbar'tfi so;;that-whenfthe elements 3.6isever1the I the yarn extends to and over yarns only short ends will lnemainzattachedto "the.

fabric- 2 2 Thezsmannen-in swhichthegrmechanism shown nt-h drawings ioperates. anditherebyparries-out theimethod, according. tO'i'the invention: will; be evident to those skilled in the art from the forein i rintiQm The :operationbf ;;the; mechanism wilLy-however; be :briefly reviewed for; purposespf conveni ncei.aszfollows:

Withtmyam'end heldLby-lthe clamping means, .upongstarting I ilp;;afull-fashioned" knitting-machine to make a fabric, the yarn for each knitting section is automatically drawn from the yarn delivery tube of its yarn carrier finger and against the hot wire element 36. From the element 36 the end needle 46 and as it is carried across the knitting section resistance element adapted to the yarn is kinked around the needles and formed into loops in the usual manner. After knitting several courses the pattern chain 46 operates to close the switch of the timer 66 and thereby close the circuit 68 to energize and. heat the hot wire element 36 sufiiciently to cause it to sever the yarn. After a predetermined time interval the circuit 68 is again opened by the timer switch. This series of operations is repeated as each new yarn is introduced into the fabric irrespective of the side of the knitting section at which the yarn is introduced.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described by which I obtain the referred to results, can be changed and modified in various ways without departing from the invention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

What I claim is:

1. The combination in a full-fashioned knitting machine of a needle row, means to lay yarn to said row, means cooperating with said row to knit fabric from said yarn and means to draw ofi the fabric, means for attachment of said yarn at a point offset from the needle row, yarn severing means comprising an element adapted to be heated to a temperature to sever the yarn, means supporting said element in position to be contacted by said yarn as it extends from the fabric to said attachment means and means to heat said element to a predetermined temperature to sever the yarn.

2. The combination in a full-fashioned knitting machine of a needle row, means to lay yarn to said row, means cooperating with said row to knit fabric from said yarn and means to draw off the fabric, means for attachment of said yarn at a point offset from the needle row, yarn severing means comprising an electric circuit including a be heated to a temperature to sever the yarn, means supporting said element in position to be contacted by said yarn as it extends from the fabric to said attachment means, and means for energizing said circuit for heating said element to a predetermined temperature to sever the yarn.

3. The combination in a full-fashioned knitting machine of a needle row, means to lay yarn to said row, means cooperating with said row to knit fabric from said yarn, and means to draw off the fabric, means for attachment of said yarn at a point offset from the needle row, yarn severing means comprising an' electric circuit including a resistance element adapted to be heated to a temperature to'sever the yarn, means supporting said element in position to be contacted by said yarn as it extends from the fabric to the attachment means, andv automatic means for energizing said circuit at predetermined times and for predetermined periods.

i. The combination as defined in claim 3 in which said automatic means comprises a pattern chain, a timing switch in said circuit and means for operating said timing switch from the pattern chain. r

5. The method of operating a full-fashioned knitting machine having a needle row, means to lay yarn to said row, means cooperating with the row to knit fabric from said yarn and means to draw ofi thefabric, the steps comprising, attachthe fabric and said REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 2,173,788 McAdams Sept. 19, 1939 2,346,195 Spalding Apr. 11, 1944 2,437,735

Getaz Mar. 16', 1948 

